Dick Ritger Selected as First Bowling Coaches Hall of Fame Inductee

Group of Coaching Trailblazers also recognized

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - Renowned bowling coach Dick Ritger has been selected as the first-ever inductee of the new Bowling Coaches Hall of Fame, recognizing superior coaching contributions to the sport. After days of application reviews and hours of discussion and voting, the Bowling Coaches Hall of Fame committee, comprised of chairman Jimmy Sturm, BPAA president-elect, Dave Garber - USBC co-director of coaching; Susie Minshew - IBPSIA past-president; Bob Rea - bowling coach/consultant (Bob Rea & Associates); Kelly Bednar - director of the STE Skills Center; and bowling writers Dick Evans and Jim Goodwin, the committee settled on Mr. Ritger. The formal induction will take place Wednesday morning, June 25th during International Bowl Expo’s General Session at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Fla.

Dick is acclaimed as one of the outstanding teachers of bowling, one who can help the pro and amateur alike.

The PBA and ABC Hall of Famer graduated from the University of Wisconsin, with a double major in Physical Education and Recreation. Dick's Physical Education background is the basis for the Ritger System to better bowling, entitled "The Feelings of Bowling"™

His worldwide teaching has covered 24 countries on five continents including, Asia, Europe, Australia, South and North America, with many countries using the Dick Ritger structured, systematic progressive teaching program as their base. Dick's methodical, businesslike, consistent style is the secret to his success as a pro and as a renowned teacher. Dick is the first Pro Bowler/Instructor to be elected to the University Hall of Fame, for his alma mater, La Crosse University. In July 1995, Dick was awarded the World Bowling Writers Distinguished Service Award, the John Martino award in 1998 for "Outstanding Contribution to the Sport of Bowling", and the BPAA/Dick Weber Bowling Ambassador award in 2006.

Prior to Mr. Ritger’s induction, a group of nine Trailblazers, also selected by the Hall of Fame committee, will be recognized as coaching visionaries who laid the foundation for all who followed. The list of Bowling Coach Trailblazers include:

Lou Bellissimo, first reknowned college bowling coach

Buddy Bomar, one of bowling’s earliest prominent instructors conducting clinics nationwide

Bill Bunetta, known for teaching coaches how to coach

Frank Clause, bowling coach author and instructional film creator for AMF

Ned Day, one of the first to make extensive exhibition tours, among the game's great stylists, excelling in instructing, and performing in popular Hollywood film shorts.

Chief Halftown, known as the "father of in-school bowling"

"Doc" Hattstrum, first to analyze some of the sport’s core principals

Floretta McCutcheon, "first known" woman bowling coach

Andy Varipapa, known for being the first to make bowling movies used for instruction

All applications received for consideration will be kept on file so that those applicants do not need to resubmit each year unless they want to simply update their application.

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